Thermal and electrical conductive 2D CuO evaporator for all-day steam generation

•The honeycomb-like and superhydrophilic porous CuO coatings are engineered on the brass plates.•The 2D evaporator with high light adsorption generates steam and electricity under sunlight illumination.•The 2D evaporator can also work at night under the introduction of input voltage.•All-day steam generation is achieved through the flexible photothermal transition and thermoelectricity of the evaporators.